Women's Work

Hands to cradle a pretend baby at LAX

Hands to answer the phone

Hands to protect your face from drunken blows

Hands to dial a helpline

Hands to fold clothes

Hands to press school uniforms

Hands to press an important man’s shirt

Hands to reveal illuminated letters

Hands to direct passengers to emergency exit rows

Hands to pour coffee and take food orders

Hands to wash dishes

Hands to break dishes for attention’s sake

Hands to knead bread

Hands to shape pasta

Hands to roll rice

Hands to work a pole

Hands to mark names on a ballot for reproductive rights

Hands to braid hair

Hands to sew quilts while imprisoned in your own home

Hands to cut your lover free after hanging himself

Hands to dig for holy escape

Hands to support first steps, or last

Hands to let go

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Judi Mae “JM” Huck is an arts administrator currently based in Las Vegas, Nevada. She is the Clark County Poet Laureate coordinator and a teaching artist for both literary and visual arts. Follow her on Instagram @bandittrl.